Co-op City Completes $48.5 Million Elevator Modernization Project

There are no small projects at Co-op City. The massive, 35-building Mitchell Lama complex in the Bronx is the largest co-op in the U.S., so “everything is magnified,” says Cary Smith III, assistant executive general manager at Riverbay Corporation, Co-op City’s corporate entity. A case in point: The co-op is now in the final phase of a $48.5 million elevator modernization project. Completion in early 2025 will mark the conclusion of a five-year undertaking to replace all the aging elevator infrastructure, including 176 cabs, shafts and machinery. “The elevators were breaking down, they didn’t look appealing, the floors were coming up, and it was difficult to get parts for maintenance,” Smith says.

The first phase, begun in 2019, included upgrades to 160 residential elevators — many of them high-rise — within the 15,372-unit co-op. The work coincided with the pandemic, presenting both supply issues and complications around social distancing, with restrictions on the number of people who could travel in an elevator at one time. “There would be pizza parties in the lobby because there were 30 people waiting to go upstairs,” says Donald Gelestino, founder of Champion Elevator, the firm contracted to do the maintenance and repairs.

The residential elevator modernization, which took four years, cost $42 million and required 24-hour crews and service teams to ensure there was always at least one functioning elevator in each building. Most of the buildings have two elevators in the lobby, so when one was taken out of service and dismantled, all the machine parts were kept nearby, rather than removed from the premises, in case they were needed. “We had spare parts for everything — and did extra maintenance so the other elevator would stay running,” Gelestino says.

Aware that garage inspections would be needed under Local Law 126, the board decided the next phase was to address the 16 garage elevators, which were original to the buildings and over 50 years old. “We were trying to do it all at once but that was deemed to be way too expensive,” Smith says. The cost for the garage elevator upgrades is $6.5 million. Mitchell Lama co-ops benefit from government help in order to keep maintenance costs down. Smith says the elevator modernization funding has come from the operating budget without the need for an assessment. 

Each garage has a front and rear elevator running seven stories, and while the repairs have been less disruptive for residents than the modernization of the residential elevators, the project has not been without challenges. The work is being done in phases with eight teams working on the first eight elevators for three months before moving on to the second set of elevators. “We had planned to start in the rear elevator in one of the garages, but unfortunately the front elevator went out so we couldn’t close down the rear and have both elevators out,” Smith says. This required some pivoting by the maintenance crews to ensure residents could reach their vehicles. 

In addition, a substantial amount of prep work was needed before the elevators could be replaced. “Our shafts needed to be updated and sealed, and electrical work performed,” Smith explains. The new elevators have stainless steel and galvanized components to ensure durability, as well as poured epoxy floors. “No more tiles coming up or trip hazards,” Smith says. The elevators also use less energy and are fully equipped for residents who are hearing or sight impaired. They are also equipped with alarm buttons and communication systems so building staff can be reached in an emergency. “They were safe before, but now they are even safer,” Gelestino says.